On Tuesday, May 12, five area Culver’s Restaurants (three locations in Green Bay, Marinette and Door County) participated in the Culver’s “Day of Giving” fundraising event. On this day 10% of sales were donated to support the American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter.

Red Cross volunteers were at each location, thanking the customers and delivering their food while they talked about how their “dining out” was helping the people of our community.

In total, $2,648.92 was raised for programs and services.

“Just as Culver’s honors guests who visit our restaurants, we truly want to honor the fine organizations that meet the needs of its community member’s everyday,” said Lea Culver, co-founder of Culver’s. “Through the kind generosity of our guests during the ‘Day of Giving,’ we provide support to help continue these efforts. Thanks to everyone in local community that makes this day a success.”

During this week, Red Cross chapters across the country will conduct CPR/AED classes and demonstrations, host events, and provide educational information on the importance of CPR and AED training.

In less time than you think, Red Cross training can give you the vital knowledge and skills to respond to a life-threatening situation with confidence. If you are interested in learning more about CPR/AED join us for:

The event includes: AED manufacturer reps and a medical professional to answer questions. We will also be providing CPR/AED demos, prize giveaways, and a local Hero who will share his “Save StoryThe event includes:

On June 8, 2008, Jeremy Moeller, trained in American Red Cross Lifeguarding, helped save the life of Mike Skorczewski. After making sure all participants were out of the water for the swim portion of the triathlon, Jeremy went to watch the transition area. Mr. Skorczewski completed the swim portion and went into the transition area and mounted his bike. Just as he exited the area, Mr. Skorczewski collapsed and fell off his bike. Mr. Skorczewski showed no signs of life. Jeremy noticed the victim lying on his back on the pavement. Jeremy provided the address to the lady calling 9-1-1. Another individual was already performing chest compressions so Jeremy ran and retrieved the AED. Jeremy applied the AED pads to the victim and a shock was delivered. As Mr. Skorczewski became more coherent, he was rolled into the recovery position until EMS arrived and took over. Without a doubt, the skills learned in the American Red Cross Heath and Safety Services course and used by Jeremy Moeller contributed to saving Mike Skorczewski’s life.

For this act, Jeremy Moeller has been awarded the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for the Professional Responder. This is one of the highest awards given by the Red Cross to an individual or team of individuals who saves or sustains a life by using skills and knowledge learned in an American Red Cross Health and Safety Services course. The certificate bears the signatures of President and CEP of the American Red Cross, and Chairman of the American Red Cross.

This action exemplifies the highest degree of concern of one human being for another who is in distress.

On April 21, Sarah Kerbel hurriedly left an awards banquet at the Holiday Inn celebrating the efforts of area YMCA volunteers. She raced over to the downtown YMCA where she quickly changed so she could be there for the final session of the ten-week Girl’s Night Out Program. This dedication and loyalty to her community is probably what won her the Downtown YMCA Volunteer of the Year Award for her work with the Girl’s Night Out Program.

When she arrived an hour late the girl’s asked, “Where were you?” They know Kerbel would never miss a session unless it were something very important because Kerbel knows how important the Girl’s Night Out Program is. The program is designed to help sixth graders deal with social issues and build confidence, Kerbel says.

She has been with the program for five semesters. Each week the program will help to build a skill such as stress management or communication. The girls will split up into five or six groups and for the first hour will do activities to build that skill and Kerbel will work with each of these groups on activity. The last hour will be physical activities.

Kerbel says oftentimes when the program first starts out even though the girls all come from the same school they don’t know much about those outside their social circle. “At the end they branch out, try different things and meet new people.”

Kerbel found out about the program when the YMCA sent over their volunteer list to the American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter where she has been an employee for almost 3 years. As the Heath and Safety Community and Authorized Provider Coordinator she oversees the Red Cross Lakeland Chapter training classes.

One of the benefits of her work with the sixth graders in the program is that it keeps her informed on what the age group is working on and what their interests are so she can share the information with the instructors at the American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter. “Keeps me in the know for the babysitting class, one of the most popular classes here.”The benefits are endless. “I’m always having fun when I’m there, learning new things. It keeps me younger,” Kerbel says. She learns from the positive and carefree attitudes of the sixth graders which helps her to remember not to worry about things so much.

The American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter is happy to see one of its employees awarded for her dedication and loyalty in the community. Kerbel says she is proud when she sees the girls grow and its “fun when you see the girls out in the community.”

“Before we got married the pastor said I would be tired from doing the work in the house and he (her fiancé) would ask me to come help with the rest of the chores. And he did,” Sylvia Krueger, 89, teases her husband, Meinhard Krueger, 90. They will both be 90 for one day in August. The next day Meinhard Krueger will turn 91.

Sylvia Krueger and Meinhard Krueger

A young Sylvia would wait in the house until the neighborhood boy would pass by or he would try to ask her if he could walk her to school. She says that neighborhood boy asked her to marry him 67 years ago and she still doesn’t know if she likes him. They must have teased each other through many chores and still do.

Lori Delain, volunteer disaster chair, says the American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter provides the donated quilts for families who are displaced by fires or another disasters. “They really love the fact that they are homemade and are very comforting in their time of need. They are not only warm, but very colorful and cheery which boosts the client’s spirits when they have just lost all or most of their belongings. We could go and buy some blankets, but it isn’t the same as getting a quilt that someone has put a lot of time and energy into making.”

For years Meinhard Krueger was asking Sylvia Krueger for help but now he is helping her with her quilt making. When they retired 35 years ago, their daughter, Judith Brantmeier, suggested they make quilts for Wayside Church. The church sent quilts overseas until it became too expensive.

They still make an average of 100 quilts a year that go to various charitable organizations including the American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter, the Salvation Army and the De Pere Christian Outreach. Several years ago they saw their distinctive quilt blocks in the paper in a photo with an article about local homeless people. “It’s nice the quilts are being distributed to people who really need them here.”

Homemade Quilts

He cuts and she sews. Brantmeier knots the quilts since Sylvia Krueger kept pulling a muscle in her chest from all the reaching. After Sylvia Krueger visited the emergency room two times because of chest pains Brantmeier insisted no more knotting. So now the quilting is a family effort with the daughter doing the knotting for the past nine years. Before going on a trip to Las Vegas, Brantmeier made sure she had 14 quilts knotted, “to keep them out of trouble.”

This last Christmas, the Kruegers made quilts for their grandkids and great-grandkids as a keepsake. They made two more this spring for their newest great grandchildren. The Kruegers have warmed many hearts with their quilt making in their family and beyond.

They did the chores on the farm side by side and now they labor together for charity. “No matter what they do it is together.” Brantmeier says, “She’s been next to him all her life and he’s been next to her.”

American Red Cross responds to Home Fire and Apartment fire on West Side of Green Bay

The American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter responded to a fire on the west side of Green Bay, effecting a home and a six unit apartment complex that occurred on Monday, May 25 around 1:30pm. In total, the Lakeland Chapter assisted seven families including eleven adults and eight children.

GREEN BAY, WI – The American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter responded to a mobile home fire in Shawano County, effecting two adults and two children, on May 25 at 11:00pm.

The American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter assisted the family with lodging and infant supplies last night and a Red Cross Disaster Volunteer will meet with the family today to assist with additional immediate emergency needs.

Red Cross disaster assistance is free and is made possible by community donations. You can help individuals of this disaster and others by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter’s local disaster relief fund. For information call the Lakeland Chapter at 920-468-8535 or visit www.arclakeland.org.